With out the question there the answer never comes.

With great confidence, I can say there are things about all of us that others do not like.It does not give them the right to attack us and our families. It does not give them the right to threaten our lives, pursue getting us fired from our jobs or to shut down our businesses. Then again, opinions differ, many feel that it does.

Even some members of Congress think so. When did this become acceptable? Bullying on steroids and done with impunity. Democrat, Republican, or pedestrian, it is wrong. Bullying is wrong in our schools, the workplace, in relationships, and any time or place.

The pure hatred pulsating against our president and anyone that supports him is seditious and vicious.

These attacks have become so common it is like they are becoming invisible when they occur.The saying that you can miss the forest for the trees comes to mind. Figuratively, let us take a look at the forest. Here are some examples of what has been done. I am sure the next news cycle or sound bite will add to the list.

Kathy Griffin is photographed holding the fake, bloodied, decapitated head of the president.

Madonna at a demonstration proudly says - "I've thought a lot about blowing up the White House."

Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr; a.ka. Snoop Dog, "Shoots" Trump in the Head in a music video.

Robert DeNiro at National Board of Review attacks President Trump with a vile rant.

Rappers YG and Nipsy Hussle released a song during the 2016 presidential campaign with lyrics that contained several threats toward the then-candidate.

Marilyn Manson kills Trump in a music video.

Larry Wilmore jokes about suffocating Trump with a pillow he said was used to kill Scalia.

Sarah Silverman suggests military could help overthrow our president.

Vanessa Trump received/opened an envelope which contained a powder that caused her to cough and feel nauseous.

Ivanka Trump, children harassed on JetBlue flight.

Peter Fonda called for the 12-year-old Baron Trump to be ripped from his mother's arms and put in a cage with pedophiles.

Maxine Waters calls on supporters to confront Trump officials in public spaces.

If you were the target of it, would it be invisible for you? Take any one of the examples I have given and replace the name Trump with yours. Does that change anything, or how you now see what is happening?

I am at a loss as to how so many intelligent people are naïve to how they are being manipulated.Manipulated, of course, we are all manipulated. There is a 24/7 sales bombardment telling you what to buy and what to think. The effort is so overwhelming it is almost impossible to know who to trust and what the truth is.

Donald J. Trump is not the most polished stone. My shiny side does not always show either. Does yours?

In my lifetime, I know of no other president that has attacked the disaster that is immigration; challenging anchor babies and chain migration. He has taken a real stand against billions of dollars of trade deficits. The anathema of Roe v. Wade may soon be faced with the evil it truly is. The barbaric murder of babies in the third trimester and sale of baby body parts.

With land navigation, it is very important to re-calibrate a compass from time to time, as you will rely on it to find your way. A moral compass guides us very much in the same way. It is good from time to time to check your heading there as well. Instinctively you know what is right and wrong.

Attacking this man and his family pushing for violence against them is wrong. Just as it would be wrong if it were you or your family being attacked.

Personally, I support our president, not everything, but mostly. I understand why others may not. I do not agree with them, but I understand. If you must join in the attacks or support others that do to belong to a group or political party, check your compass.

When people care, amazing things can begin to happenBy: Steve Trubilla

Success in all things begins with someone caring about those things. The value of self-reliance becomes revealed as people wait for others to act. Things simply do not get done. There comes a time in every person's life when they realize if they want something done they must do it.

Too often, self-interest is the driving force for those seeking political office. What's in it for me?Every now and then someone comes on the stage that is not looking to see what he or she can get.They are not looking to turn a buck, or enrich their family or friends with a sweetheart deal.They quietly go about working to improve the quality of life for their neighbors. Seeing what needs to be done, they do it.

Franklin County, do you know who John Parrish is? He is a man that started a movement, and it is a movement to bring economic development to Northeastern Franklin County.Growing up in Centerville and currently living in White Level, John for many years worked in state government and pursued business with Advantage Marketing.​There are many others now involved, but John Parish was the first to stand up. He and Dr. Jimmy Foster are the founders of the Franklin County North Carolina Revitalization Committee. Dr. Foster pursued and excelled at a career in education.

These forward thinking men have established strategic planning and tasked organizations with goals to produce results. What will be done, who will do it, and when will it be done is the focus.

The Committee meets every month at the Red Bud Baptist Church in Castalia, NC. The address is 832 NC Highway 58. The next meeting will be held at 6:15 p.m. on June 25. This will be much more than a meeting, it will be an event, a Business Showcase with as many as (25) local businesses presenting with displays. For more information on this, contact Melissa Hodges at (919) 497-6299.

The public is invited, and to quote Parrish, "Bring someone with you to the next meeting."This is a committee in action. One of the many goals is to bring people to Northeastern Franklin County to share in and enjoy the plentiful agriculture and natural resources. Another is to bring broadband Internet to their/your community.

Children should not have to go to the McDonald's parking lot to gain access to the internet to do their homework.

It is outrageous that our elected officials, to include our local school board, allow this. I have talked with many of them. What I hear is, it is a matter of resources, we are working on it, it is not something I can do anything about, etc. Excuses! Plain and simple if your elected officials cannot resolve this who can? Better question yet, if they cannot solve the problems just what do they do?

I will credit those that are working on this for their efforts. Effort has its merit, but results are what counts.

I have even been told rural broadband is a problem a lot of places have. This was offered in an attempt to justify the problem. To me it was just another excuse, and a weak one at that. If your children or your business is at a disadvantage do you really care that other places cannot access the internet?

The information highway is not coming, it is here. Without it you are left behind.

In terms of limited resources, of course they are limited. What I want to hear is how we are going to obtain those resources. Not that it is too hard for you to do. If your job is really too hard, go get one you can do. Lead, follow, or get out of the way.

I was recently told around $12 million for rural North Carolina Broadband may be identified in the budget. It was a great answer to the question of resources, leaving me feeling help is on the way. Upon looking into it further, I found even if it is, it will be disbursed based on county economic tier. The chances of Franklin County ever seeing any of it are slim to none.

The amount of work that has been done on this by private citizens like John Parrish, Dr. Jimmy Foster, and others is noteworthy and an example of what can be done when people truly care.

Attending a recent Franklin County North Carolina Revitalization Committee meeting I asked Steve and Elke Mccalla from Bunn what they thought of how the meeting and effort was going. Steve said, "Seems to be extremely progressive, no non-sense brain secession for economic development." Elke said, "Very structured and organized, inspired."

Inspired is the word I would also use to describe what is going on in Northeastern Franklin County as well.

I have never left a county commissioners' meeting feeling inspired. Maybe next time.​When you see John Parish tell him thank you. Thank you so very much for caring. Well done sir!

When it comes to solving a problem, before the undertaking of it starts, it is first necessary to understand what the real problem is. This would appear to be common sense and obvious. It is not always as simple as all of that. Conversely, I offer it is rarely that simple.

Take the example of purchasing radios without the result of effective communications. The problem is obvious, the radios do not work. Is that the problem? Spend more money to fix them, and call it an investment. Do the radios now work? Was that the problem?

So let us build a building to store the radios that do not work. Finally! We have solved the problem; can you hear me now? Was that the problem, of course not?

Then there is the problem of no competitive bidding to purchase this building? Is that a problem?While we are talking about problems and radios, here is one I have not seen a press release on.Are any of these very, very, expensive radios and/or components missing?

A "cradle to grave", simple inventory and audit trail tracking of contracts, purchase orders, and disposal documents would in a very clear way answer this.

Do you think it will be done, and do you think Franklin County will ever see a 100 percent full and independent audit done? My guess is, if it ever is, there will be a surge of county job openings. It could be the Crossbar Hotel will also have fewer rooms available after it is all said and done.

Why is it we can come up with millions for this and millions for that and we cannot afford a 100 percent full and independent audit? You know the answer to this, and it is a problem. Just about every election, the audit is a campaign promise. Do you think this could be a problem?

All of this reflects symptoms of what the problems are with radio communications in Franklin County, North Carolina, and not the actual and true problem.

The radios are only one of a number of examples that could have been cited to make this point. I could have picked from a long list. Another really good one would have been this year's Franklin County budget proposal.

Have you seen it? No, I mean really, have you seen it? The combined requests from all Departments were a plus up of six million, four hundred thousand dollars. I typed the number out to try and show just how big it is, $6,400,000 is a great deal of money. If my calculations are correct putting one dollar bills end-to-end they would stretch for 620.20 miles.

Think about that for a few minutes, let it sink in. If you traveled 620.20 miles south you would end up south of Pensacola, Florida.

I do not know if anyone else is going to ask this, but truly someone should. Did someone give the banshees the keys to the safe?

Fees are going up, Franklin County staff is being increased, and there are rumblings of increased taxes. Property valuation is a bouncing ball. I have studied it and studied it. It is hard to find anyone than can make sense of it. One thing you can be sure of is someone is going to tell you what you have is worth more. Not that they are willing to pay you what they say it is worth.

Who is guarding the barn door? My friends, not only are the horses out, so are the cows, the chickens, and even the stuffed animals are dancing in the streets.

During a recent country commissioner's meeting, the superintendent of Franklin County Schools, Dr. Rhonda Schuhler, thanked the commissioners for fully funding the school board's budget request this and last year. I sensed the expectation was being set for next year.

At the meeting there was an air of jubilance. Comments were made lauding the funding level as unprecedented. Those comments were followed with much more is needed; millions more.This begs the question: Just how much more money is it going to take? Ask yourself, if someone said to you I will give you all the money you want, how much would you ask for?

Try this little exercise with a stranger you happen to meet. Let me know how you make out.

As it relates to the future are your taxes going up, will Franklin County ever have fully functioning radios? Will the schools ever have the funding they really need? Will we ever see a countywide audit?

Ask a county commissioner these questions at one of their meetings. You will quickly hear, "we do not answer questions." You will hear the real problem, and witness the symptoms for yourself.​Leadership and management matter!

Why are there laws in North Carolina restricting access to Broad Band? Follow the money and it is clear.

Together we are many; better broadband -- nowBy: Steve Trubilla

This is the second column of a planned series on bringing broadband to Franklin County.Hindsight and foresight will always inform those with vision.

A student of leadership and management in the military, corporate America, and the political arena, I have found many similarities. A common quality among the most successful is the ability to plan rather than to react; vision.

Money without vision will not bring the desired result, unless that result is to simply spend money.This would be a great segue into the simply outrageous budget submissions by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, the funding request for schools, and other county departments -- a budget plus up of $2.7 million and fee increases.

Someone obviously thinks the Franklin County taxpayer not only lacks vision but that they are blind.Stay tuned to Paper Bullets, I will be writing much more on this.

Franklin County North Carolina is well behind many other places of similar size and demographics in some ways. Broadband innovation is among them.

On January 1, 1983, and from there, researchers began to assemble the "network of networks" that became the modern Internet. The online world then took on a more recognizable form in 1990.

We live in a fast-paced world and who knew what the Internet was going to become back in 1983?In the late 1990s, believe it or not, there were people right here in Franklin County with the foresight to see the potential. There was an initiative called the ENC addressing this.

The first official broadband meeting I know of since the late 1990's in Franklin County was held in January 2018. I will characterize that meeting as a new local broadband initiative.In the majority, this initiative has been brought on by a grassroots effort, not by elected officials or county management.

I do not know who the person was that took the first step on this and will look further to find and credit them. Truly he or she is deserving of special recognition.

From that effort, many are now involved. A Franklin County Broadband Action Committee has been formed. I am researching the composition of that board, related costs and if it has been task organized.

On April 24, 2018, Franklin County hosted a Broadband Survey Meet and Greet to give citizens an opportunity to complete the recently available Franklin County Broadband Surveys. The meeting was held at the Louisburg Library. The following Franklin County elected officials and county management personnel attended the meeting: County Manager Angela Harris, Assistant County Manager Kim Denton, School Board Member Rosemary Champion, County Commissioners James Mark Speed and Sidney E. Dunston.

It was good to see so many of these people showing interest by attending the meeting.I was however very disappointed with the public turnout. Only two or three people showed up. Really?!? People that is pathetic!

The meeting was not advertised as well as it could have been. It was also held on a Tuesday night at 5 p.m. -- not the best time. People are getting home from work, and there is homework to be done.This all said, still only two or three people showing up; sad, very sad.

At that meeting, I learned from County Commissioner Speed, that State Rep. Bobbie Richardson arranged for a meeting with Gov. Roy Cooper and his staff on April 5 to meet and discuss the broadband needs of Franklin County. I called Commissioner Speed for further comment on this, he did not return my calls. I guess he is too busy. Maybe he will have more time in November.

In a word, Rep. Richardson, "Outstanding." This is what leadership from the front looks like.There are many voices now in common cause.

This can and is becoming a movement. Now is the time for you to get on board.

Carey Johnson, staff writer for The Franklin Times, was all over this with his high impact reporting, "Carrots AND sticks? Broadband fix needs both, contend officials"

This paper is your force multiplier.

It is time to lean in and support it. Your voice is needed, pick up your phone or get in your vehicle and go see the folks at the paper. Do not be shy, tell them how you feel. Better yet, write a letter to the editor and let thousands know how you feel!

American poet, essayist, and educator Robert Hayden penned, "I truly believe one person can make a difference, but how much more difference 100, or rather 99."We have something here we can "all" work on; something local. You can do this, we can do this,"Together we are many."

Work smarter, not harder is something I am sure someone has said to you along the way. It may be among the first bits of wisdom someone tried to impart upon you.

Knowledge is a body of information developed over time. What one does with that knowledge defines their potential. If you categorically know there is a better, smarter, more productive way to do something and choose not to, then the result you get is what you deserve.

In the great movie, "The Sands of Iwo Jima," John Wayne memorably said, "Life is tough, and it's tougher if you are stupid."

The application of knowledge for practical purposes even before the innovation of the lever and fulcrum has advanced man and woman's progress. It cannot be denied; those choosing not to embrace technology are left behind.

Understanding and access to technology have always been a brutal discriminator. In simple terms, it decides who the winners and losers are. Just pause for a moment and think if American-born theoretical physicist Julius Robert Oppenheimer would have been denied, or given delayed access, to the technology of his time. The world would be much different.

I offer this as an impact statement to demonstrate just how important it is to give the next J. Robert Oppenheimer all the tools he or she will need to answer tomorrow's unknown challenges.

Where will these people come from? He or she tonight may be sitting in a parking lot here in Franklin County, North Carolina trying to get access to the internet to do their homework.

Let us say you are a single parent trying to balance everything. You know if you do not make it to the McDonald's parking lot to use their public Wi-Fi, your child will not get their homework assignment done.

Grades matter when the competition starts for college acceptance and obtaining scholarships.Did you know this was happening? Can you just imagine if you are one of these young people, or their parents; the frustration of it all?

It wasn't until I had a conversation with Dwight Neal, a lifelong resident of Franklin County, and a recent District 3 candidate for the school board, that I realized the overall negative impact this is having.

I know, as you do, in many places in Franklin County getting and keeping an internet or cell phone signal is like bobbing for apples. You get one, and then you drop it.

District 3 in size is the largest in Franklin County. By population density it is equal to all the other districts. Quality access to the digital information highway and other services is woefully lacking. Imagine, if you will, that you have a business today and cannot do e-commerce. Progressively, brick and mortar businesses are losing market share to competing internet based business.

Neal's passion for seeing this improve captured my interest. As our conversation continued I found myself asking, how could this condition just be allowed to continue? I went looking for answers and found not only did local officials know about it, many of them live in District 3.

This problem did not just come up. There have been who knows how many children and parents wearing out the road for years to find a Wi-Fi signal.

The more I probed, the more disappointed and even angry I became. So here we go again, are you kidding me? County leadership, you know this, why haven't you fixed it!

Tell this story, you bet I am going to tell it, and expose everyone for not taking this on. Then I am going to pencil whip them for not doing their job.

I already had the ending of the story in my mind, before even writing the beginning."Bring the guilty in" and we will have a fair trial by public opinion, depose and expose them.

The more I looked into this, the picture of people not doing their jobs just would not focus.I found there are actually a number of people actively engaged addressing the need for broadband and other internet connectivity enhancements.

I am not going to give a total pass to them; it is a very long-standing problem and should have been addressed many years ago. Most action being taken is fairly recent. Given what I have learned it would be wrong, unfair, and gratuitous to just find fault.

A tenant of working smarter is to consider the past; it is where you have been. Focus on the future; it is where you are going.

I can report to you that some Franklin County management and many of your elected officials, both Democrat and Republican, are now engaged and in the fight.

In a future column I will highlight some of these officials and what they have been doing. I will also highlight what the real obstacles are and what you can do to help overcome them.

McDonalds, “Would you like Fries and Wi-Fi with that”?

McDonalds, “Would you like Fries and Wi-Fi with that”?By: Steve Trubilla

The music is playing and there is a dance going on. It is called an election for our/your School Board. The establishment is all about keeping their money rolling and their people in place.

It is supposed to be non-partisan. It does not matter what political Party you claim. It is to be all about the schools and children, not politics.

Well the Franklin County, NC Democrat political machine is spending a lot of money and writing letters to “influence” this election. They do not respect the non-partisan agreement they committed to.

So is a lie corruption? I say it is, and also yet another face of voter fraud. Think about this when you vote. What other lies have they told you to get your vote?

There is a man running in District 3, Dwight Neal, he has no interest in their political agenda. In fact like so many others he is tired of the noise they keep putting out.

Here is a real issue effecting every family, student, and parent in Franklin County.

For years parents have been driving their children to McDonalds to gain access to the internet so they can do their homework. No member of the School Board, including the incumbent Neal is running against is energized about this.

Mr. Neal is, and has caused others to become involved.In large part it is why he decided to run for the school board.

If you are a parent or student this is a very big deal!

Grades matter when it is time to compete for scholarships and gaining acceptance by a college.Parents should not have to take off work or leave early so their children can get their homework done.

This should matter to those that can do something about bringing Broadband to Northeastern Franklin County. The current Franklin County School Board can, but they are not. It is why it is time to replace them with people that will.

McDonalds, “Would you like Fries and Wi-Fi with that”. Look for the story in my Paper Bullets column in next week’s Franklin Times. I encourage you to pick up a copy.

With grant money available for rural broadband you have to ask yourself, just why have they not gone after it?

You can bet when Dwight Neal is on that School Board he will find out why.

This election is going to be decided by very few votes. You can and will make a difference in this election, if you vote.

Please, please get out and vote for Dwight Neal for School Board.​“Paper Bullets” enthusiastically endorses Mr. Dwight Neal for the Franklin County School Board.

The carnage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS in Parkland, Florida deepens the national wound. The question again is: Why did this happen? If there is one thing today I am sure of, it is this question will be asked again.

I do not know where it will be asked. It could be Anywhere Town, USA. Will it be Franklinton, Bunn, or Youngsville, or another place most of America has never heard of? What a terrible ponderance to place on the community shoulders. Even the possibility of this anathema is too dark and painful to consider.

On April 15, 2007, was it possible the next day 32 students and teachers would be gunned down on Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University? Surely it was not, and yet it did.What is causing children to pick up a gun in school and kill? I am told highly educated people, the smartest in the country, are working to find the answer. It appears they have concluded it must be the gun, so the focus is on guns.

Some say we need more gun laws, less gun laws. Some are even calling to have teachers armed.Others want to turn the schools into fortresses. Fortifications, no matter how strong, can always be compromised.

Maybe those really smart, highly educated people are not asking the right questions, and maybe they are not talking to the right people. What we do know is what they are doing is not working.Here is a question: What has changed for the kid in school that was bullied last year that is still scared this year? For most of them, I will tell you what has changed: Nothing! They are looking more forward to leaving school than they are to getting there.

Well, something might have changed; maybe he or she is now among the estimated average 30 percent of children in school today on some type of medication. Guess who in many schools is responsible for administering and controlling that medication during the school day? It is not always a school nurse, it is the teacher.

Call me out on this. Check it yourself and see if this is happening in your school? I have had some local teachers tell me it is, even though they have been told not to talk to me about it because of my writing ways. While you are checking, ask just what qualifies that teacher to administer those drugs. Remember we are not talking about vitamins or aspirin. These are serious, mind-altering controlled substances.

This is a window to another story for another time about something called Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Much of what you do not know about this and the struggle parents are having would anger you.

Research shows that as many as one out of six people in America may be on some type of antidepressant. You have to wonder how many of them are involved in the lives of school children.

Did you know a study found that children's hospital admissions of patients 5 to 17 years old for thoughts or actions of suicide more than doubled from 2008 to 2015?

No other generation of teachers in history has been asked to do what we now demand of them.To get a real measure of this, read Jamie Vollmer's book, "Schools Cannot Do It Alone."It is a recognized premier work on today's education system. It should/must be required reading for everyone with anything to do with the schools, including law enforcement.

Maybe it is not the guns after all. Maybe the social engineering has finally hit critical mass.Everyone, even the most hardened of people, can be broken. When people break there are pieces. Pieces can cause a lot of damage.

Often there are simple answers to big problems. Maybe just talking to the children about what they are living with day to day and attentively listening to what they say is the answer to this.Children are told to listen to adults. Maybe it is time for the adults to do a bit of listening.What would it cost? Think what it could be worth.

I do not mean just do this one on one. I mean do it in a major and continuing way.It is more than a different time, it is a different world. Your world may have been school days, school days, dear old golden rule days. Theirs is much different.

We now live in a world that starting the school day with a prayer, even a moment of silence is found to be offensive. Maybe before more guns we should consider more prayer.​Get them off the drugs, stop the bullying. I promise you there will be fewer tears. I promise you if you do not, there will be more.

A flower display, and other memorials along the road, we have all seen them. You do not know the whole story, but the symbols tell you enough. Somewhere there are tears. A loved one will return home no more.

Are such memorials appropriate or even necessary; Are any of them for any reason?

It could be argued memorials are not appropriate. If not, then they are not necessary? The person is dead. A flower display, marker, monument, or bunch of stuffed animals will not bring them back.

In large part, people have memorials to grieve what has been lost. In equal measure they are erected to remember the past.

There will always be those that do not like a memorial, wanting their memorials raised in place of them. Who cannot see the irony and folly of submitting to this? For the replaced marker or statue becomes the next one to be replaced.

The medium used most for these commemoratives is a blend of stone. Like a cold heart, stone endures. Incapable of grief or, remembrance, it is not the stone that strikes out and seeds hate, it is the cold heart.

Over the last few months, the controversy and debate about Confederate monuments has blared on. Locally, many letters and editorials have been written; the discourse is good. Reading and listening intently, I chose to let the threads of this run without comment as I gained greater perspective.

For some, these statues represent slavery and others heritage. I see both and so much more. I see every fallen solider, my country being ripped apart. I see crops burning in fields; as starvation steals life from women and children. I see the prison camps, the horrific disease, medical conditions which present horror Hollywood cannot imagine.

Go where I have in my study of this period. Try to visualize the well over 620,000 dead, from every race, age, and walk of life.

There is so much more to this story than statues made of stone. What about the whole story?People are more than willing to spray paint, smash, and pull down these memorials. They are even willing to desecrate graves and physically attack anyone that even appears to disagree with them.

How can America say we are a nation of laws when such things are excused by prosecutors and judges?

Recently, what played out in Durham courts is an example of this and what normal has become.Numerous charges against multiple defendants were dropped. Even against a person that pleaded guilty to the destruction of the statue in front of the old courthouse.

This was done notwithstanding evidence the destructive effort was planned and is supported by extensive video evidence.

Then some of the now excused took to the media bragging about what they had done.If you go into the weeds a little, you may find the influence of the communist group, Workers World Party.

Make no mistake, this is not about Confederate monuments. I would wager most that protest, destroy, and blather about know little if anything about what is called by some the American Civil War.

"The flap over the Confederate Flag is not quite as simple as the nation's race experts make it. They want us to believe the flag is a symbol of racism. Yes, racists have used the Confederate Flag, but racists have also used the Bible and the U.S. Flag. Should we get rid of the Bible and lower the U.S. Flag? Black civil rights activists and their white liberal supporters who are attacking the Confederate Flag have committed a deep, despicable dishonor to our patriotic black ancestors who marched, fought, and died to protect their homeland from what they saw as Northern aggression."That was stated by Walter E. Williams, professor George Mason University.

There is a nexus with monuments and what he has to say about the Confederate Flag.I have read many histories of Confederate and Northern monuments. I could find not one account where slavery, death, or the evil of war was to be celebrated by any of these memorials, not one.

What I have found most lacking by those seeking the greatest destruction in this is a total lack of empathy for tears shed for those that never returned home, or their families.

In 1957, Congress declared Confederate soldiers, sailors, and Marines U.S. Veterans. What is done to their memory is done to the memory of every veteran, yesterday's, today's, and tomorrow's.​There are those that will never understand this until they get their son or daughter back home in a box.Trust me, then they will get it! Indeed they will understand what made of stone really means.

All associations begin with wants and needs. Someone needs or wants something, it is made known.The giving or getting of that thing does not define the association. It is if those involved are truthful and honor what they commit to do that does.

The dynamics in truly meaningful relationships can build the bond of friendship, however they are complex, yet also are very simple. The nexus is trust. Trust is the principle which embodies honesty. Absent the pillar of honesty, no real relationship, or even merit for association exists, just the illusion of one.

Does principle matter when it comes to politics, family, business, or other valued relationships, or do expectations blur the lines? The answer should be yes, an unequivocal and resounding yes! Those closest to you are most invested in your fidelity of principle.

If someone close to you is running for office you naturally feel the obligation to be supportive, and they have the expectation that you will be. Expectation, what a word. It is possible more relationships have been destroyed because of another's expectations. This more than any other condition.

As it relates to political office, before the expectation of support should come question of what they stand for.

Over the years I have talked with many running for office. Some which are friends and business associates. Like-minded people that have told me they are diametrically opposed to the Party they are affiliated with. Some of these people are in office right now, and plan to run for reelection.

It always begs my question, if in core principle you are so at odds with the Party platform, why are you with that Party? The initial response is generally the same, an awkward blank stare. Then a comment like it is a matter of numbers and demographics. There is little to no chance to win with the other Party.

They offer, it is just a local election, and say things like they really do not support this or that person. If only they can get elected they can work from within against them, followed with, I would really appreciate your vote.

Let us review this. A person aligns themselves with others they seek support from. Then privately rebuke them, as they accept support from those they have been disloyal to.

For the candidate, I have a few questions. Is this the basis for a meaningful relationship? Is that what you are looking for, or is it, you just want to get elected, and will use anyone necessary to that end?

Some would say this is just politics, the way it is, and always has been done. In many cases they would be right. So then just how do you know what someone really stands for if it is not what they tell you?

In broad strokes it is easy. They stand for the same things those they stand with stand for. It is where their campaign money is coming from. Indeed, follow the money. If their Party supports late-term abortion, open borders, racial divide, the destruction of national monuments, and fights against voter ID integrity that is what "they" stand for.

It is the height of hypocrisy and dishonesty for a person to lie to others to garner their support as they ask you to believe what they then tell you.

Friendship and politics present as a conundrum when these conditions exist. One wants to be supportive of friends. Often on a personal level, elections are in the abstract, as you are not seeking any office.The election will come and go.

How do you resolve this, what do you do? Are you a person of conviction and principle, or when it counts; are you just like your friend? Talking the talk, but not walking the walk.

May be it is time for some reflection before relenting to expectation and giving your support in the next election.

No true friend would have the expectation you compromise your principles just so they can get elected. If they do, take good measure of it, they are not your friend. They will compromise what little principle they have at your expense, when it is to their benefit.

In this you have no real friendship. There is not even a meaningful relationship. It is an association best ended.

The time for sitting on fences is over.

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Do people learn from their mistakes, or are some of them destined to just repeat them over and over again?

It would be wonderful if our intuitive senses included foresight, allowing us to avoid future mistakes. Imagine if you will, you are driving down the road, about to crest a hill on a blind turn. Your extrasensory perception warns of an eighteen wheeler barreling towards you out of control and in your lane. Would you simply continue on your happy way, or take evasive action?

The answer would appear to be obvious, but I return to the introductory question. All people do not learn from their mistakes.

Maybe, as we evolve, precognition and extrasensory perception will give the benefit of natural foresight. Until then, unfortunately, hindsight is as good as it gets. This said, you should not have to get hit by a truck twice to learn.

The example of getting run over by a tractor trailer is used as an "attention getter"; illustration to make a point. Dramatic, maybe, so let me try something a bit less so.

Let's say you have trees, shrubs, and other natural growth growing into the roof and structure of your home, overtaking it to the point ignoring it would compromise the entire roof and structure of your home. What would you do?

Okay, let's say the condition exists but by the time you realized it, it was too late. You had to spend considerable time and money to save your home. Do you think you would have learned from it? My guess is if you personally had to pay for it, you sure would have.

Do you remember back in 2012 when attention due to public exposure of the lack of maintenance was finally being directed at the trees literally growing into the courthouse in Louisburg? It is not that this was not known by literally everyone responsible for the maintenance of the building, because it was. I know so because I personally talked with many of them about this.

I would like to tell you there was a good and reasonable reason for it not being taken care of before it became necessary to spend many hundreds of thousands of dollars for corrective maintenance, but I cannot.

As it turned out, the trees growing into the building were but the tip of problem as it related to maintenance at the courthouse. The roof was leaking to the point water was literally destroying the interior of the building.

The problem was so extensive that when it rained, pumps had to be placed on the roof to evacuate the water. It defies understanding that this was seen as a remedy, but it was.

I am trying to paint a picture of just how pathetic this condition was, and pathetic does not begin to describe it. Would you believe me if I told you is was so bad Resident Superior Court Judge Robert Hobgood actually appeared before the Franklin County Board of Commissioners to plea for repairs to the courthouse? Well he sure did.

Thank goodness he did, because frankly, had he not, I am not sure the problems would have been addressed to this very day.

Before it was all said and done the cost to repair and renovate the courthouse exploded. Finding the actual number on the cost is difficult. At the same time, similar problems were being experienced with the Franklin County Jail.

With cost overruns and contract modification the combined costs were in the millions. It bears mentioning to this date problems still remain.

Having a very strong logistics background, I understand maintenance management models. I once asked a county executive about the county preventive maintenance program. I was told "We are not in that business." I am here to tell you no maintenance model exists without a preventive maintenance pillar.

One would think after the experience of the courthouse and jail with millions being spent, people would learn from their past mistakes. Do you think they have?

Well, if you do, take some time and drive by the Library in Youngsville. The trees and other natural growth are literally growing into the building. Then drive by other county buildings.

Like with the courthouse and jail, the condition is known. The cost is predictable.What does it take to learn from a mistake? The outcome does not have to be the same.

How much would it cost for all of the county commissioners to get in a vehicle and do a drive-by inspection of all county buildings with the country manager?How much will it cost if they do not?

I learned long ago if you want to influence the action, go where the action is.

An open question, who lost their job for what was allowed to happen at the courthouse and jail, and should someone have? It cost millions!​Leadership matters. It really does, and so does accountability.